Ray Parlour: It's not rocket science, Lacazette and a defender could be the difference in Arsenal's title challenge

The forwards Arsenal have scouted ahead of the transfer window

Arsene Wenger doesn’t need a rocket scientist to work out where their priorities in the remaining week of the transfer market should be, according to Arsenal legend Ray Parlour.

However the ‘Romford Pele’ has warned his former manager that even bringing in the centre-back and striker the club need may not be enough to secure a first Premier League title since 2004 as the top flight’s financial arms race grows ever more fierce.

Both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool have made significant moves in the transfer window since May, when Arsenal announced the £35million signing of Granit Xhaka. At the Emirates progress has been rather more sedate, with young centre-back Rob Holding and Japanese forward Takuma Asano the only arrivals over the past few weeks.

Just four days before their season begins and the need for a centre-back has become all the more pressing, with pre-season injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel leaving Wenger with just one senior centre-back. It is a problem that Parlour believes must be addressed swiftly.

“It’s not rocket science for Wenger,” Parlour told Standard Sport.“The midfield looks really strong but they don’t have those options at the back.

“Holding’s come in and done well, I know for a fact that the coaches are really pleased with. But he’s still a young lad, you can’t rely on him. Calum Chambers, again, he might play at the weekend but he needs experienced players to learn from.

“Laurent Koscielny will be back very soon but with Mertesacker and Gabriel being out for a while it’s vital they get someone in now.

“And there’s been lots of reports about Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi, Alexandre Lacazette at Lyon – someone of that quality could be the difference. The midfield creates chances; they just need another striker who can finish them off.”

Arsenal are in the market in both positions but are not expected to bring in either of their leading targets, Valencia centre-back Shkodran Mustafi and Lacazette, before the deadline for registering players for their first game of the season at home to Liverpool. Any new signing would have to be completed by midday on Friday.

In spite of the relatively glacial pace at which Arsenal’s transfer business has moved in recent weeks Arsene Wenger has been keen to remind his critics that only one side outperformed him last season.

And Parlour believes that whether or not Arsenal do bring in the big-money signings that their fans demand may not dictate whether they find themselves as champions in May, if they can take inspiration from Leicester.

He added: “Some new arrivals would certainly give them a chance, but would two signings be enough? I don’t know. It’s so wide open.

“They have to believe they can win it, I’m sure Arsene Wenger told them on the first day of pre-season, ‘you have to believe’.

“Leicester have opened the league’s eyes. Yes they had a bit of luck along the way but they showed to any other club that it can be done. Of course Arsenal have a chance if Leicester do.”

Liverpool FC 1-0 Bournemouth: New season brings old unease, points matter more than performance and other things learned

NEW SEASON BRINGS OLD UNEASE

Meet the new season, much like the old one. Prior to kick-off, the enthusiasm, optimism and belief was there; those disappointing, disheartening final few weeks of the season written off as nothing more than a bad nightmare.

The Kop was vibrant, full of voice and possibilities. A hard-fought three points at Stoke was reason enough to think this would be different.

But back came the old issues. The laborious start, borne out of a ponderous defence – Dejan Lovren in particular – with most of the attacks funnelling through Philippe Coutinho, even though the Brazilian was consigned to the right of midfield.

Indeed, the raised flag of the assistant to rule out Tommy Elphick's goal in the opening five minutes – harsh, most certainly – saved Liverpool.

And then, with night not yet fallen, Christian Benteke won another header. Once more he did well; once more, no one in a red shirt was there to profit, static as the ball trickled to a Bournemouth player.

Anfield sighed, groaned, fumed. Rightly so, too. Just seven minutes in.

Slow starts were a real problem for the Reds last season; an unstable platform to begin and an issue that would only become worse as the clock ticked on with a nil next to their name.

That would end, of course, with Benteke's opener 27 minutes in; the vibrancy and enthusiasm was back, at least, until half time.

The second half followed a similar pattern. As Bournemouth pressed, Anfield winced. The full time whistle came as relief; but true relief will only come when they start at a quicker pace.

General view of Liverpool in action against AFC Bournemouth

COUTINHO MUST BE CENTRAL

In the first week of the season, Coutinho picked up the ball in a central position; he moved the ball on to his right foot and fired a shot into the top corner. A matchwinner in full flow.

Why, then, the Brazilian found himself kicking off at Anfield out on the right is a real source of contention. If it was designed to involve Adam Lallana more, then it did not work; partly because Lallana did little, but also because Lallana has always looked at his best when the buzzsaw of Coutinho attracts markers away from him.

Coutinho is not a winger, nor wide midfielder; he is a no.10 or, in a 4-3-3 formation, one of the two advanced central midfielders. Whether by instruction or frustration, Coutinho drifted infield in search of the ball.

The no.10 is best in the middle of everything, with the full pitch to run into and targets to pass to, both left and right. It is an experiment that should not, and can not, continue.

Liverpool FC v Bournmouth Premier League Match at Anfield Stadium Liverpool. Philippe Coutinho misses a sitter

SET-PIECE SMARTS GIVE REDS EXTRA EDGE

It should be paint-by-numbers football. In the box stands Benteke; alongside him, Lovren and Skrtel. Gravitate the ball towards their heads, and let them do what's needed.

Liverpool were far smarter than that. As, it should be noted, were Bournemouth.

For the home side, the first goal came from a well-worked corner routine; granted, the delivery from Henderson to Nathaniel Clyne was not quite as accurate as hoped, but the full back managed to hook it back to Henderson, whose delicious ball in was converted by the Belgian striker.

Minutes later, James Milner and Henderson combined well from the set piece, with the former clipping the crossbar. That duo worked together soon after – Milner shaping to cross in, but sliding to his midfield partner – with the end result a turned-down penalty appeal.

Innovation is never a bad thing in football, and after scoring just 11 set-piece goals in the Premier League last season – comfortably in the league's bottom half – it is much-needed.

It is also, perhaps, the first glimpse of the new coaching set-up at work.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers

LALLANA POSITION DEFINITELY UNDER THREAT

The first home game of the season, and preparations were perfect. The pitch looked as good as it ever did last season, the floodlights beamed bright, the fans were in good voice.

Throughout the summer, Lallana had spoken of how this was his season, how he had enjoyed perfect preparations. Anfield had not seen the real £23m man; he would find himself much sharper and fitter with a full pre-season behind him, after his maiden summer at the club was interrupted early with injury.

He might, however, soon find himself off Brendan Rodgers' starting line-up.

With £29m of Roberto Firmino primed for his first start, Lallana and Jordon Ibe would seem to be most at risk. It was Ibe who the new no.11 replaced but, from the start, Ibe gives speed, directness, an outlet; Lallana, though a good player, gives what Coutinho and Firmino could.

He was not bad against Bournemouth, but after just two league games, he has emerged as one of those whose position is under threat.

Adam Lallana of Liverpool competes with Matt Ritchie of AFC Bournemouth

SIX POINTS ALL THAT MATTER

It is a mantra that served Liverpool well in 2013-14, at least. When the season begins, it's all about points, not performance. No matter how the three points are won, just win them.

That's not to suggest this season will be the same as that one. There is no Luis Suarez to return, although Daniel Sturridge will hope to have a similar galvanising effect upon his return.

But it's consecutive 1-0 wins for Rodgers, just as it was against Stoke and Aston Villa two seasons ago. That gave the team a platform to do wondrous things over the next nine months.

What platform this has given will be revealed over the next 36 games. For now, it's six from six – and the perfect start in terms of points, if not performance.